Leadership & Legacy: Models & Admirers

There are various definitions and types of leadership: Ecclesiastical leadership: this type of leadership is found in religious organizations and functions as a guide for followers. A church hierarchy consists of a Pastor or priest, priests and deacons who oversee specific areas of the parish, and elders who are responsible for overseeing the work and ministry of the entire congregation. Another type of leadership is the servant leader (who values compassion and service), transformational leadership (focuses on nurturing skills such as self-awareness, empathy, conflict resolution and collaboration), situational leadership (works best for specific situations such as a crisis) and visionary leadership (inspires people to work towards a common goal).?

There are also different leadership styles: autocratic leadership (in which the leader makes all the decisions without consulting the team), democratic leadership (in which the leader encourages input from the team before making a final decision) and laissez-faire leadership (in which the leader provides guidelines to the team and lets the team operate independently).?

In the military, leaders often learn several different types of leadership based on their job requirements. For instance, in the military, air force pilots typically learn to lead by following orders from a superior officer. Army generals are typically more directive than Air Force generals and often display a more authoritarian style of leadership. Navy admirals are more consensus-oriented and might adopt a democratic style of leadership when working with their teams.?

The traits listed below may all be found in great leaders; however, they may not be present in all leaders, depending on their personalities and abilities. Endurance – Leaders should have strong character and be able to withstand pressure and stress over a long period of time. Communication Skills – Leaders should be able to communicate clearly and effectively to engage their followers and motivate them to act. Critical Thinking – Leaders should be able to think critically and draw good conclusions from information gathered from a variety of sources. Creative Thinking – Leaders should be able to come up with innovative solutions to complex challenges and implement those ideas effectively. Leadership qualities may be innate, and some cannot learn or teach. However, many leaders have shown to exhibit certain behaviors that can substantially influence others to follow their lead. Learning more about these qualities can help aspiring leaders recognize their strengths and weaknesses as they progress toward becoming effective leaders.

There are many kinds of leaders, and each has their way of leading a team to achieve results. In general, there are four primary types of leadership styles that are used by leaders around the world. These are called autocratic, democratic, delegative and laissez-faire leadership styles. Autocratic leaders are generally in charge and make all the decisions for their teams. They are typically authoritative in their approach and take an authoritative approach to managing their team. Democratic leaders encourage input from team members and encourage everyone’s opinion to be heard and respected. They lead through collaboration and teamwork rather than strict control from the top down. Delegating leaders have less responsibility and authority than autocratic and democratic leaders. They spend more time monitoring and supporting their team as opposed to making decisions themselves. Laissez-faire leaders are the least active in leading the activities within their team and they rely on their team members to do most of the work themselves. Some leaders prefer to adopt a hybrid style of leadership that incorporates elements of several different types of leadership to ensure the success of their team.

Personal note: I was in Buffalo, NY on November 18th, and 19th (2022) for the nationally reported mega-storm that dumped 42 inches of snow and ice in two sweeps of WNY. My rental car had two and a half feet of snow on it and around it, with a nice coating of ice below. The hotel by the airport had 'a' shovel and couldn't find the keys for the snow blower. So I grabbed the shovel and decided to dig my way out. Yeah, that didn't happen, I just made matters worse, now the car was out of the parking spot, blocking everyone from leaving. Just then some emergency power workers from Syracuse NY were coming back after an all-night shift. The first two guys that were closest to the car looked at my predicament and one lamented "I have a steel shovel in the truck he can use," the other guy standing in front of the car looking straight at me said, "No, the two of us can push him out." So, the other guy came back and they both tried to push. No luck. As the other powerline workers left their vehicles and approached the car, the one that said that they could push me out said to the others, "Let's get this guy out." One of the other guys said, "Fuck him, he's got rear-wheel drive." Another said, "Let them plow him out," and yet another shouted, "Leave him." But the key man the one who said that they could do it, now said, "No, go get that steel shovel. You guys push the car toward the dry spot and we'll push it backward, pointing to the guy that said, "Fuck him". Now everyone was engaged and focused on getting the car out of the snow and within a few minutes, I was out and on my way. They all shouted, "Don't stop, keep going!" I looked in the rearview mirror as they all cheered and laughed. I purposely didn't encourage or entice them to help me, I wanted to see what would happen. My predicament could have gone in a lot of directions, namely me getting a heart attack shoveling this heavy snow; others have already died shoveling.?

The most powerful model of leadership has always been the Servant Leader. Winston Churchill led Britain through World War II and saved the world from an unimaginable fate. He led the British people to victory and led with humility and integrity. I looked into the eyes of the guy that said, "No, let's help him." His adamantine eyes gave them the confidence that they could do anything as long as they believed they could, and he proved that to me that day. He looked at me and said, "Go get that shovel."

Leadership and legacy are two important concepts that many people think about, but few ever get the chance to experience. Leaders can have a tremendous impact on their organizations and the communities they serve, both positive and negative. The same goes for legacies; some leaders have positive legacies that live on long after they are gone, while others leave behind nothing but negative memories in their wake. To have a positive legacy as a leader, you must create an organization that fosters healthy growth while encouraging its employees to be the best they can be. But, who influences them? Parents always have an impact either good or bad, teachers are surely in the category of influencers, mentors and past bosses yes but so are the role models whom we admire and follow.

Let's look at the immortal influencers such as leaders past and present, those who we look up to and try to emulate; from Abraham Lincoln to Richard Branson and Mahatma Gandhi to Maya Angelou, we all have had role models who have shaped our lives in one way or another. In business or in life, our path to success is shaped by the people we encounter along the way. Will Durant has aptly said, "The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving." This is true both personally and professionally. Whether you are a leader or employee in your organization or someone looking to break into the workforce, you have many resources at your disposal that can help you achieve your goals.

In the world of 'thinkers' we can point to Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, and Saint Thomas Aquinas, to name but a few. Their thoughts have influenced generations of students across the world and continue to influence the way we view the world today. Copernicus, Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Isaac Newton, and Voltaire are also among the notable minds who greatly contributed to science as we know it.?

There are several leaders you look up to who are inspiring for their integrity, courage, ?willingness to take a stand for their principles and even the way they treat their fellow human beings.?